I need to get away from social media. On Facebook I'm reading posts about things that don't really concern me and get annoyed at people's reactions and rudeness. Trouble is you look at one thing then the page is filled with more of the same. Instagram I used for projects and followed others like me but then I get lured in by the competitions and you have to follow this company or that company then you get more of the same again. I read a lot on threads but not posted myself yet. We're going to France in the summer and our gite has no internet. I wonder if we'll come home and keep that silence or will fall back into old habits.
I know what you mean - it is so easy to get sucked into things and not really realise. I only use FB for my Everyday Knitter group to be honest. If it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't go on there at all 🤣
Beautifully said. This is a message that needs to be repeated over and over again. It is true for so many areas of life. We, the individuals have the power and control over what we allow into our minds and hearts.
Absolutely on point. It is now plain for all to see where the sm giants are placing their money and gaining political power. I left facebook and then twitter and never engaged with insta as I'm a words rather than visual person. When substack arrived I was delighted as it seems genuinely to be monetised for the creators. I have control over what I see and who I communicate with.
As usual Louise, you expressed my thoughts almost exactly. I really like Instagram but make it work for me. I use the Following option and don't get adverts. I follow a very carefully curated set of makers, yarn companies and designers . Yes it narrows what I see but I think I get enough reposts from the accounts I follow to broaden my outlook every so often. I don't post on my grid but I like to love posts and occasionally comment. I have a set routine for social media - when I'm out having a coffee, lunch or dinner. I'm trying to get Threads and Bluesky to the same curated standard and I'm loving Substack. I never got Facebook, from the start there was just too much drama. Unfortunately I still have a Twitter account because some companies will only respond to customer service issues on there.
Yes, absolutely. I never understand how people complain about Instagram ads when the ability to use the ‘following’ feed is right there if they want it. I’m pretty happy with my Threads feed but every few weeks I need to do another round of hitting the ‘not interested’ button to keep it on track.
I’ve deleted insta. I used it mostly for crafting and fashion but I really went down the rabbit hole so I’m not missing it. I still have Facebook for my crochet and reading but I’m struggling with ALL the advertising and content I don’t want. If I give it up how do I not miss my crochet groups? And reading recs? I turn more to Substack. It’s a dilemma
FB used to have an option for just seeing FB Groups but they got rid of that unfortunately. Like you, groups are pretty much the only thing I use FB for.
I just go in to check my own group (Everyday Knitter) and then pop into the other groups I am a member of for a quick scroll.
I rarely check my FB home feed as it doesn’t show me anything I’m interested in (I don’t use it for friends/family or personal stuff any more)
I absolutely agree with you. I use Instagram to follow gardening and baking content and as a way of following some younger friends and relatives when they post pictures. I post very little now and, if I do it’s always pictures of the garden or bread 😂. I have a toe hold on Twitter simply because of a tiny number of people (all gardeners it has to be said) that aren’t on anywhere else but I resolutely ignore all other content on there. Am trying BlueSky as an alternative but have become absolutely ruthless about blocking anything and everything I don’t want to see. Am only just getting into SubStack despite following a few people like Mark Diacono and Debora Robertson for ages and am really enjoying it so far. I like the longer form posts and have found lots of really interesting opinions. Now need to get to grips with subscription on here.
Perfectly put Louise! I never felt at home anywhere until Substack, and I have to keep reminding myself that all things are temporary and all things evolve, so as not to get toooo attached - or maybe just prepare myself for the grieving process when/if it evolves to a place that doesn't feel like home anymore.
Exactly. It's all part of a continual evolving process isn't it. I used to spend ages on Instagram every day catching up with people and chatting and now I forget for days on end sometimes.
Social media just sucked up my time and took me away from real life. Online shopping makes you a "product," as well. Deleted Twitter; never used my IG acct; deleting Facebook after saving a few photos. Never used Rav as social media, just as a database to which I dutifully add my projects and notes and faithfully keep my stash recorded (which has allowed me to help out a handful of other yarnies over the years). About to remove my account from YouTube, too. Oddly enough, the pandemic has driven me *toward* irl encounters, rather than online. We started hosting outdoor gatherings, getting to know our neighbors better, spending more time at the local library--not just for books, but also other activities, including a knit and crochet group--and volunteering at an art space.
The less time I spend on social media, the happier and more connected I am.
You may be right. I’m not much of a substacker. I use it to read content (and comment) rather than write it.
There is something about having my own space which is attractive. Somewhere to write for myself, for the exercise, for fun, rather than to feed a voracious, never-satisfied algorithm.
I don’t think I’d leave IG altogether, but a shift in focus wouldn’t be a bad thing.
I need to get away from social media. On Facebook I'm reading posts about things that don't really concern me and get annoyed at people's reactions and rudeness. Trouble is you look at one thing then the page is filled with more of the same. Instagram I used for projects and followed others like me but then I get lured in by the competitions and you have to follow this company or that company then you get more of the same again. I read a lot on threads but not posted myself yet. We're going to France in the summer and our gite has no internet. I wonder if we'll come home and keep that silence or will fall back into old habits.
I know what you mean - it is so easy to get sucked into things and not really realise. I only use FB for my Everyday Knitter group to be honest. If it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't go on there at all 🤣
Beautifully said. This is a message that needs to be repeated over and over again. It is true for so many areas of life. We, the individuals have the power and control over what we allow into our minds and hearts.
Brilliant observation!! Something I’ve more or less stepped away from! Unless of course I cooked myself something yummy I want to share!! LOL
Absolutely on point. It is now plain for all to see where the sm giants are placing their money and gaining political power. I left facebook and then twitter and never engaged with insta as I'm a words rather than visual person. When substack arrived I was delighted as it seems genuinely to be monetised for the creators. I have control over what I see and who I communicate with.
I love that Substack simultaneously gives us more control but also significantly more freedom to explore and be ourselves.
As usual Louise, you expressed my thoughts almost exactly. I really like Instagram but make it work for me. I use the Following option and don't get adverts. I follow a very carefully curated set of makers, yarn companies and designers . Yes it narrows what I see but I think I get enough reposts from the accounts I follow to broaden my outlook every so often. I don't post on my grid but I like to love posts and occasionally comment. I have a set routine for social media - when I'm out having a coffee, lunch or dinner. I'm trying to get Threads and Bluesky to the same curated standard and I'm loving Substack. I never got Facebook, from the start there was just too much drama. Unfortunately I still have a Twitter account because some companies will only respond to customer service issues on there.
Yes, absolutely. I never understand how people complain about Instagram ads when the ability to use the ‘following’ feed is right there if they want it. I’m pretty happy with my Threads feed but every few weeks I need to do another round of hitting the ‘not interested’ button to keep it on track.
I’ve deleted insta. I used it mostly for crafting and fashion but I really went down the rabbit hole so I’m not missing it. I still have Facebook for my crochet and reading but I’m struggling with ALL the advertising and content I don’t want. If I give it up how do I not miss my crochet groups? And reading recs? I turn more to Substack. It’s a dilemma
FB used to have an option for just seeing FB Groups but they got rid of that unfortunately. Like you, groups are pretty much the only thing I use FB for.
I just go in to check my own group (Everyday Knitter) and then pop into the other groups I am a member of for a quick scroll.
I rarely check my FB home feed as it doesn’t show me anything I’m interested in (I don’t use it for friends/family or personal stuff any more)
That’s the way I’m moving to on FB. It’s sad but I’m hoping more groups may move to other places.
I absolutely agree with you. I use Instagram to follow gardening and baking content and as a way of following some younger friends and relatives when they post pictures. I post very little now and, if I do it’s always pictures of the garden or bread 😂. I have a toe hold on Twitter simply because of a tiny number of people (all gardeners it has to be said) that aren’t on anywhere else but I resolutely ignore all other content on there. Am trying BlueSky as an alternative but have become absolutely ruthless about blocking anything and everything I don’t want to see. Am only just getting into SubStack despite following a few people like Mark Diacono and Debora Robertson for ages and am really enjoying it so far. I like the longer form posts and have found lots of really interesting opinions. Now need to get to grips with subscription on here.
Substack is such a great place to explore - but there is absolutely no rush to get to grips with it all. It can be a bit of an overwhelming place.
Perfectly put Louise! I never felt at home anywhere until Substack, and I have to keep reminding myself that all things are temporary and all things evolve, so as not to get toooo attached - or maybe just prepare myself for the grieving process when/if it evolves to a place that doesn't feel like home anymore.
Exactly. It's all part of a continual evolving process isn't it. I used to spend ages on Instagram every day catching up with people and chatting and now I forget for days on end sometimes.
Forgetting sounds very healthy. I forget for weeks on end these days - gradually, getting closer to perhaps, removing it from my life entirely.
Here! Here!
Social media just sucked up my time and took me away from real life. Online shopping makes you a "product," as well. Deleted Twitter; never used my IG acct; deleting Facebook after saving a few photos. Never used Rav as social media, just as a database to which I dutifully add my projects and notes and faithfully keep my stash recorded (which has allowed me to help out a handful of other yarnies over the years). About to remove my account from YouTube, too. Oddly enough, the pandemic has driven me *toward* irl encounters, rather than online. We started hosting outdoor gatherings, getting to know our neighbors better, spending more time at the local library--not just for books, but also other activities, including a knit and crochet group--and volunteering at an art space.
The less time I spend on social media, the happier and more connected I am.
Thinking ourselves as the ‘product’ is really eye opening isn’t it. It definitely helped me to reframe my thinking on the subject.
I often think I might just go back to blogging.
No paywall, no algorithm, and the option to have it sent to an email address without it being compulsory.
It certainly makes things a lot simpler but I think I would miss the connection that I get from being here, for example.
You may be right. I’m not much of a substacker. I use it to read content (and comment) rather than write it.
There is something about having my own space which is attractive. Somewhere to write for myself, for the exercise, for fun, rather than to feed a voracious, never-satisfied algorithm.
I don’t think I’d leave IG altogether, but a shift in focus wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Perfectly said!!!!